Transition in the critically ill patients: Malaysian nurses’ perspective

• Main Authors: Mohamed Ludin, Salizar, Arbon, Paul, Parker, Steve
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: RT Nursing
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/17218/1/2_Conf_Phuket_7-9_Apr_10_Salizar.ppt; http://irep.iium.edu.my/17218/
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Background: The concept of transition is one of the concepts that are central to the nursing discipline. Hence, nurses understanding and experience in caring for critically ill patients undergoing transition are important to promote smooth transition and prevent negative long term outcomes to the patients. Knowledge on patients’ transition through the nurses’ could be useful and helpful in understanding and helping nurses to value and intervene nursing therapeutic for the patients experiencing transition. This paper represents part of a study on the nurses’ perception of the meaning of transition in the critically ill patients and the effects to the patients, families and nurses themselves. Aim: To understand what is the meaning of transition in the critically ill patients and the nurses’ experience in caring for the patients undergoing transition. Design and method: A descriptive interpretive research approach, influenced by Grounded theory method of analysis was used. Data collection carried out through focus group and in-depth individual interviews with a total of 34 participants (5 focus group and 10 individual interviews) in the Malaysian Critical/Intensive Care Unit. The data were subject to constant comparative analysis. Results: The meaning of nurses’ understanding on critically ill patients in transition and experience in caring for the patients emerged as six categories: Illness and severity, sequel of transition, fate, faith and hopefulness, care concern, emotional effects and moral stress. Conclusion: This finding provides understanding on C/ICU nurses’ awareness and knowledge on the concept of transition experienced by the critically ill patients and the impacts to the patients, families and nurses. This understanding is necessary for the nurses in assisting the patients and families in coping with transition. Recommendation can be made to the nursing education to increase student nurses level of knowledge on patients’ transition and transitional care in preparing them in the clinical practice.